European Council Approves Proposal for a Stronger eu-Lisa Agency

The European Council has adopted the Commission’s proposal to strengthen the mandate of the eu-LISA agency, in a bid to close gaps that may threaten the security of Europe and its citizens.

The strengthening of the eu-LISA, which is the EU Agency responsible for the operational management of large-scale information systems in the area of freedom, security and justice in Europe, will also ensure that the EU information systems for migration, security and border management are more interoperable.

The proposal was approved on November 9 in Brussels, by the European Council. The Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos welcomed the proposal’s adoption, asserting that the eu-LISA would now be transformed into an even stronger nerve center of all EU information systems.

“Information is a powerful tool and the stronger Agency will help to make sure that immigration officers, border guards and law enforcement authorities have the right information, at the right time. It will help us connect all the dots towards an effective and genuine Security Union,” Commissioner Avramopoulos said among others.

Julian King, the EU Commissioner for the Security Union also assessed that the strengthening of the eu-LISA is an essential step forward the efforts of the EU bodies to make the information systems more interoperable.

“This in turn will ensure police officers and border guards on the ground get complete, accurate and reliable information so that they can do their jobs effectively and efficiently. We will now work with the co-legislators, to reach agreement on our interoperability proposals as quickly as possible,” Commissioner King said.

Support the Member States by providing them with greater ad-hoc technical and operational support.

Now the proposal ought to be signed jointly by the President of the European Parliament and the Austrian Presidency of the Council. Upon the signing, the text will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, 20 days after which it will enter into force.